High speed winch rewind adapter

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes a high speed winch rewind adapter for quickly rewinding a loading strap. In one implementation, the adapter includes a body having a volume sized to at least partially surround an annular end of the winch. The annular end is coupled with a ratchet mechanism of the winch and having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar. A drive connector is positioned both within the volume of the body and external to the volume of the body, the drive connector external to the volume of the body having an external profile to receive a torque, and the drive connector within the volume of the body insertable into the annular end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation. A coupling mechanism synchronizes the drive connector to the annular end such that both the drive connector and the annular end rotate simultaneously.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application is a continuation ofand claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/393,134,entitled “High Speed Winch Rewind Adapter,” filed Dec. 28, 2016, andnaming James L. Henderson as inventor, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to an apparatus to facilitate rotation of awinch for rewinding or tightening a strap.

BACKGROUND

Transportation of large cargo items is often open and not contained in acontainer. Large cargo items are often secured onto a flatbed of avehicle using straps. Each strap is affixed at one end and adjustable onthe other end. For example, on the adjustable end, the strap may beallowed to extend to sufficiently surround the large item and then betightened to hold the large item against the flatbed to secure the largeitem.

There are many mechanisms to store, deploy, and tighten a strap. One ofthe popular devices is a weld-on winch that has a ratchet mechanism thatincludes a ratchet and a cam. The weld-on winch stores a roll of straparound its axis of rotation. When the cam is disengaged from theratchet, a free end of the strap can be pulled to surround the cargoitem. After sufficient length of the strap is pulled to surround thecargo item, the free end is then affixed to a point of attachment of theflatbed, such as by using a metal hook. The cam is reengaged to theratchet to prevent the strap from further extending from the winch, andany loose portion of the strap will be rewound into the winch. Thedeployed strap will then be tightened to secure the cargo item. When thecargo item is to be removed from the flatbed, the cam is againdisengaged from the ratchet to loosen the strap. The loose end of thestrap is freed from the point of attachment and the strap is rewoundonto the winch.

Rewinding the strap onto the winch is often a manual operation and timeconsuming, especially when there are many winches for one flatbed toprovide different points of fixations. Winch bars for tightening thestraps are designed to provide a long arm that enables an application ofsufficient torque for tightening the straps and thus not suitable forfast rewind. Directly rewinding by hand is tiring and slow.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes a high speed winch rewind adapter for quicklyrewinding a loading strap. The winch rewind adapter enables a user toactuate the winch using a rotational power tool or a socket wrench, thussaving time and effort.

In a first general aspect, an adapter is coupleable with a winch thathas an axis of rotation. The adapter is configured to rotate the winchalong the axis of rotation when a torque is applied to the adapter. Theadapter includes a body having a volume sized to at least partiallysurround an annular end of the winch. The annular end is coupled with aratchet mechanism of the winch. The annular end has at least one holefor receiving a winch bar. A drive connector is positioned both withinthe volume of the body and external to the volume of the body. The driveconnector external to the volume of the body has an external profile toreceive a torque. The drive connector within the volume of the body isinsertable into the annular end of the winch for alignment to the axisof rotation. An extension member is movable at least partially into andout of the volume of the body. The extension member is biased toward thedrive connector. At least a portion of the extension member isconfigured to engage at least a portion of the at least one hole of theannular end of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch sothat the winch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when a torqueis applied to the external profile of the drive connector of theadapter.

In some embodiments, the adapter further includes a handle attached tothe extension member for pulling the extension member away from thedrive connector to disengage the adapter from the annular end.

In some other embodiments, the adapter further includes a resilientmember for biasing the extension member toward the drive connector. Forexample, the resilient member is a coil spring. The extension member canfurther include a flange for engaging the coil spring.

In yet some other embodiments, the external profile includes a hex drillsocket operable to receive a hex drill socket driver coupled to a powerdrill for powered winding.

In some embodiments, the external profile is coupleable to a socketwrench for manual winding, wherein the socket wrench is not directlycoupleable to the winch.

In a second general aspect, a rewind adapter is coupleable with a winchhaving an axis of rotation. The rewind adapter includes a body having avolume partially surrounding an end of the winch. The end of the winchis coupled with a ratchet mechanism and has at least one hole forreceiving a winch bar. A drive connector is positioned both within thevolume of the body and external to the volume of the body. The driveconnector external to the volume of the body has an external profile toreceive a torque. The drive connector within the volume of the body isinsertable into the end of the winch for alignment to the axis ofrotation. An extension member is movable at least partially into and outof the volume of the body. The extension member is biased toward thedrive connector. At least a portion of the extension member isconfigured to engage at least a portion of the at least one hole of theend of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch, so that thewinch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when a torque is appliedto the external profile of the drive connector of the rewind adapter.

In some embodiments, the rewind adapter further includes a handleattached to the extension member for pulling the extension member awayfrom the drive connector to disengage the adapter from the end or toallow the drive connector to be coupled with the end withoutinterference from the extension member. A resilient member may be usedfor biasing the extension member toward the drive connector. Forexample, the resilient member is a coil spring. The extension member mayfurther include a flange for engaging the coil spring.

In some other embodiments, the external profile includes a hex drillsocket operable to receive a hex drill socket driver coupled to a powerdrill for powered winding.

In yet some other embodiments, the external profile is coupleable to asocket wrench for manual winding, wherein the socket wrench is notdirectly coupleable to the winch.

In a third general embodiment, an adapter is coupleable with a winchhaving an axis of rotation. The adapter can rotate the winch along theaxis of rotation when a torque is applied. The adapter includes a bodyhaving a volume sized to at least partially surround an annular end ofthe winch. The annular end is coupled with a ratchet mechanism of thewinch and has at least one hole for receiving a winch bar. A driveconnector is positioned both within the volume of the body and externalto the volume of the body. The drive connector external to the volume ofthe body has an external profile to receive a torque. The driveconnector within the volume of the body is insertable into the annularend of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation. A couplingmechanism synchronizes the drive connector to the annular end such thatboth the drive connector and the annular end rotate simultaneously.

In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism includes an extension membermovable at least partially into and out of the volume of the body. Theextension member is biased toward the drive connector. At least aportion of the extension member is configured to engage at least aportion of the at least one hole of the annular end of the winch whenthe adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotatedalong the axis of rotation when a torque is applied to the externalprofile of the drive connector of the adapter.

In some other embodiments, the adapter further includes a resilientmember for biasing the extension member toward the drive connector. Forexample, the resilient member is a coil spring. The extension member mayfurther include a flange for engaging the coil spring.

In yet some other embodiments, the external profile includes a hex drillsocket operable to receive a hex drill socket driver coupled to a powerdrill for powered winding.

Detailed disclosure and examples are provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a side view of a winch showing the ratchet mechanism;

FIG. 1B is a front view of the winch with the rewind adapter;

FIG. 1C is a side view of the winch showing the annular end;

FIG. 2A is a front view of the rewind adapter;

FIG. 2B is a cross sectional side view of the rewind adapter;

FIG. 3 shows a rewind operation using a power tool connected to therewind adapter to actuate the winch; and

FIG. 4 shows a rewind operation using a socket wrench connected to therewind adapter to actuate the winch.

Like elements are labeled using like numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure presents a high speed winch rewind adapter for quicklyrewinding a loading strap on a winch. A trailer of a semi-truck (alsocalled a trailer coupled to a tractor unit), may include a flatbed forcarrying one or more large objects. In a typical trailer confirmation,one or more straps are positioned at spaced intervals along an edge ofthe trailer to secure cargo to the flatbed. Each strap has a loose endfixable to an attachment point on the flatbed and an adjustable endrolled onto a winch for adjusting length and tension. The loose end ofthe strap can include a clip or bent piece of metal that can be securedto an attachment point of the flatbed. The rewind adapter can enable auser to quickly rewind or tighten a deployed strap. An example winch andthe rewind adapter are illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a winch 100 often has a rotatable shaft 107securing the adjustable end of the strap 120 (strap conceptuallyillustrated in FIG. 1B). The rotatable shaft 107 is supported by a frame102 that may be weld-able, fastenable, or otherwise attachable to aflatbed or similar transportation structures via the support 130.Turning to FIG. 1B, the rotatable shaft 107 has one end coupled with aratchet mechanism 105 and the other providing an interface for receivinga torque for rotation, i.e., an annular end 110. The annular end 110includes a center hole 108 as shown in FIG. 1C and a number of radialholes 112 for receiving winch bars or other rotating device for turningthe rotatable shaft 107. Part of the ratchet mechanism 105, therotatable shaft 107, and the annular end 110 are rotatable around theaxis of rotation 101.

In some embodiments, the annular end 110 may be on either side or bothsides of the frame 102. For example, although the annular end 110 isillustrated on the right side in FIG. 1B, the annular end 110 may beswapped with the ratchet mechanism 105. In some embodiments, each ofboth ends of the rotatable shaft 107 may be the annular end 110 whilethe ratchet mechanism 105 is integrated into the rotatable shaft 107 orthe frame 102. For example, the ratchet mechanism 105 can be anymechanism that enables the rotatable shaft 107 to rotate in onedirection and restrains the rotatable shaft 107 to rotate in the otherdirection.

The present disclosure concerns with a high speed rewind adapter 150that is attachable to the annular end 110. It should be understood thatthe rewind adapter 150 may have different sizes according to variouswinch shapes and sizes, as long as the winch includes an annular endthat includes a center hole and at least one radial hole similar to theannular end 110.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIG. 2A is a front view of the rewindadapter 150. FIG. 2B is a cross sectional side view of the rewindadapter 150. The rewind adapter 150 includes a body 201 that encloses avolume 205. The volume 205 is sized to at least partially surround theannular end 110 of the winch 100. For example, the body 201 asillustrated is cylindrical in shape. The inner diameter of the body 201is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the annular end 110 inorder to have the volume 205 partially surround the annular end 110. Insome embodiments, the body 201 has a depth greater than the thickness ofthe annular end 110 to completely enclose the annular end 110. In otherembodiments, the body 201 has a depth less than the thickness of theannular end 100 so the volume 205 can be filled by the annular end 110.Although the body 201 is illustrated as a cylindrical shape, othershapes of the body may be applied as long as the volume 205 canpartially surround the annular end 110. For example, the body 201 may beof an elliptical, square, or rectangular shape.

The rewind adapter 150 further includes a drive connector 212 positionedboth within the volume 205 of the body 201 and external to the volume205 of the body 201. The drive connector 212 external to the volume 205of the body 201 has an external profile 214 to receive a torque. Theinternal portion 216 of the drive connector 212 that is within thevolume 205 of the body 201 is insertable into the center hole 108 of theannular end 110 of the winch 100 for alignment to the axis of rotation101.

The rewind adapter 150 further includes an extension member 210 movableat least partially into and out of the volume 205 of the body 201. Theextension member 210 is biased toward the drive connector 212. At leasta portion of the extension member 210 is configured to engage at least aportion of the at least one radial hole 112 of the annular end 110 ofthe winch 100 when the adapter 150 is coupled to the winch 100 so thatthe winch 100 may be rotated along the axis of rotation 101 when atorque is applied to the external profile 212 of the drive connector 212of the rewind adapter 150.

In some embodiments, the external profile 214 includes a hex drillsocket 218 operable to receive a hex drill socket driver 302 coupled toa power drill 301 for powered winding, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Inother embodiments, when a power drill 301 or a hex drill socket driver302 is not available, the external profile 214 is coupleable to a socketwrench 410 for manual winding, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The socketwrench 410 may not be directly coupleable to the annular end 110.

The rewind adapter 150 further includes a handle 220 attached to theextension member 210 for pulling the extension member 210 away from thedrive connector 212 to disengage the rewind adapter 150 from the annularend 110. A resilient member 215 for biasing the extension member 210toward the drive connector 212, such as a coil spring for example, isplaced in a support compartment of the body 201. The resilient member215 is held fixed at the end that contacts an end wall of the supportcompartment of the body 201 and is held against a flange 217 (which mayalso be referred to as a stop) affixed onto the extension member 210. Atrest, the flange 217 is pressed against the body 201.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the extension member 210 may be partiallyextended into the drive connector 212 that includes a hole for receivingthe extension member 210. In some embodiments, the hole may be a partialcavity, depending on the length of the extension member 210, toaccommodate a partial insertion. In some other embodiments, the driveconnector 212 may not provide a hole or partial cavity for accepting theextension member 210 to pass through; and the extension member 210 maybe stopped at the drive connector 212 when the flange 217 does not reston the body 201 as in the example of FIG. 2A.

Other implementations are possible. For example, the resilient member215 biasing the extension member 210 could be made of rubber or otherelastic materials rather than a metal spring coil. In some embodiments,the handle 220 of the extension member 210 may be designed to lift theextension member 210 by pressing rather than by lifting. In some otherembodiments, two or more extension members may be included to engage twoor more of the radial holes 112 of the annular end 110. In some othervariations, the outer profile 214 may be able to directly engage a powertool without coupling with a hex drill socket driver, for example, whena chuck of the power tool can directly engage the outer profile 214.Other variations are possible within the scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A winch adapter having an axis of rotation andconfigured to rotate a winch along the axis of rotation when a torque isapplied to the winch adapter, the winch adapter comprising: a body sizedto at least partially surround an end of the winch when coupled, the endof the winch having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar; a driveconnector at least partially external to the body and at least partiallysurrounded by the body, the drive connector having an external profilethat is external to the body and that is configured to receive a torque,and the drive connector configured to be at least partially surroundedby the body and insertable into the end of the winch when aligned withthe end of the winch; and an extension member movable at least partiallyinto and out of the body of the winch adapter and biased toward thedrive connector when the winch adapter is coupled to the winch, whereinat least a portion of the extension member is configured to engage atleast a portion of the at least one hole of the end of the winch whenthe winch adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may berotated along the axis of rotation when the torque is applied to theexternal profile of the drive connector of the winch adapter, theextension member having a stop configured to at least partially limitthe movement of the extension member relative to the body.
 2. The winchadapter of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to theextension member for pulling the extension member away from the driveconnector to disengage the winch adapter from the end of the winch,which is provided as an annular end of the winch.
 3. The winch adapterof claim 1, further comprising a resilient member positioned adjacent tothe extension member and configured to position the extension membertoward the drive connector and toward the at least one hole of the endof the winch when the winch adapter is coupled to the winch, theresilient member inside the body.
 4. The winch adapter of claim 3,wherein the stop of the extension member is a flange for engaging theresilient member.
 5. The winch adapter of claim 1, wherein the externalprofile comprises a hex drill socket operable to receive a hex drillsocket driver coupled to a power drill for powered winding of the winchwhen the winch adaptor is coupled to the winch.
 6. The winch adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the external profile is coupleable to a socket wrenchfor winding the winch, wherein the socket wrench is not directlycoupleable to the winch.
 7. A rewind adapter configured to couple with awinch having a ratchet mechanism and an axis of rotation, the rewindadapter comprising: a body partially surrounding an end of the winch,the end and having at least one hole for receiving a winch bar; a driveconnector at least partially surrounded by the body and at leastpartially external to the body, the portion of the drive connectorexternal to the body having an external profile to receive a torque, andthe portion of the drive connector partially surrounded by the bodycoupleable with the end of the winch for alignment to the axis ofrotation of the winch; and an extension member movable at leastpartially into and out of the body, and biased toward the driveconnector when the rewind adapter is coupled to the winch, wherein atleast a portion of the extension member is configured to engage at leasta portion of the at least one hole of the end of the winch when therewind adapter is coupled to the winch so that the winch may be rotatedalong the axis of rotation of the winch when a torque is applied to theexternal profile of the drive connector of the rewind adapter, whereinthe extension member includes a stop configured to at least partiallylimit the movement of the extension member relative to the body.
 8. Therewind adapter of claim 7, further comprising a handle attached to theextension member for pulling the extension member away from the driveconnector to disengage the rewind adapter from the end.
 9. The rewindadapter of claim 7, wherein the extension member is secured toward thedrive connecter.
 10. The rewind adapter of claim 9, further comprising aresilient member that is a coil spring for biasing the extension membertoward the drive connector.
 11. The rewind adapter of claim 10, whereinthe stop of the extension member further comprises a flange for engagingthe coil spring.
 12. The rewind adapter of claim 7, wherein the externalprofile couples with a power drill for powered winding through a hexdrill socket and a hex drill socket driver arrangement.
 13. The rewindadapter of claim 7, wherein the external profile is coupleable to asocket wrench for winding the winch, wherein the socket wrench is notdirectly coupleable to the winch.
 14. An adapter having an axis ofrotation for coaxially coupling with a winch and configured to rotatethe winch with a ratchet mechanism along the axis of rotation when atorque is received at the adapter, the adapter comprising: a body sizedto at least partially surround an end portion of the winch, the endportion having at least one opening; a drive connector at leastpartially surrounded by the body and at least partially external to thebody, the drive connector external to the body having an externalprofile to receive the torque, and the drive connector partiallysurrounded by the body insertable into the end portion of the winch foralignment to the axis of rotation; and a coupling mechanismsynchronizing the drive connector to the end portion such that both thedrive connector and the end portion rotate simultaneously, wherein thecoupling mechanism includes a stop configured to at least partiallylimit the movement of the coupling mechanism relative to the body, and aportion of the coupling mechanism biased toward the drive connector whenthe adapter is coupled to the winch.
 15. The winch adapter of claim 14,wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an extension member movable atleast partially into and out of the body and biased toward the driveconnector, wherein at least a portion of the extension member isconfigured to engage at least a portion of the at least one opening ofthe end portion of the winch when the adapter is coupled to the winch sothat the winch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when a torqueis applied to the external profile of the drive connector of theadapter.
 16. The winch adapter of claim 15, further comprising aresilient member for biasing the extension member toward the driveconnector.
 17. The winch adapter of claim 16, wherein the resilientmember is a coil spring; and wherein the stop of the extension memberfurther comprises a flange for engaging the coil spring.
 18. The winchadapter of claim 16, wherein the external profile of the drive connecteris configured to couple with a power drill through a hex drill socketassembly to provide the torque.
 19. A powered adapter having an axis ofrotation for coaxially coupling with a winch with a ratchet mechanismand configured to rotate the winch along the axis of rotation when atorque is applied, the powered adapter comprising: a rotational powersource configured to provide rotational motion; a body sized to at leastpartially surround an end of the winch, the end of the winch having atleast one opening; a drive connector partially surrounded by the bodyand partially external to the body, the drive connector partiallyexternal to the body having an external profile to receive the torque,and the drive connector partially surrounded by the body coupleable withthe end of the winch for alignment to the axis of rotation, wherein thedrive connector is rotationally coupled with the rotational power sourceto rotate the drive connector by applying the torque to the externalprofile; and an extension member movable at least partially into and outof the body, wherein at least a portion of the extension member isconfigured to engage at least a portion of the at least one opening ofthe end of the winch when the powered adapter is coupled to the winch sothat the winch may be rotated along the axis of rotation when the torqueis applied to the external profile of the drive connector of the poweredadapter, wherein the extension member includes a stop configured atleast partially to limit the movement of the extension member relativeto the body, and is biased toward the drive connector when the poweredadapter is coupled to the winch.
 20. The winch adapter of claim 1,wherein the drive connector comprises a first piece at least partiallyexternal to the body, and a second piece at least partially surroundedby the body, the first piece having the external profile and the secondpiece insertable into the end of the winch.